Internal call

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

About the position

Based in Rome, Italy, and reporting to the Senior Manager, Business Development and Diversification, the team leader will join the Business Development and Diversification unit of the Strategic Partnership Engagement and Communication (SPEC) Department to manage assigned projects within A4IP’s core accelerator portfolio and support coordination across the portfolio, while serving as the regional focal point for the Middle East and North Africa. This role will ensure high-quality delivery across programs and projects, strong regional partnerships, alignment with organizational priorities and mission, and effective coordination with internal units and CGIAR Centers.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Manage the implementation of projects (AgriTech4Egypt), ensuring effective project execution and regional alignment (with a strong focus on MENA), and delivery of high-impact innovation programs.
  
• Provide project-level guidance and coordination in support of the overall A4IP accelerator portfolio.
  
• Operate with global organizational engagement.
  

Regional Focal Point for MENA and External Engagement

• Serve as A4IP’s primary focal point for the MENA region, supporting the coordination of regional strategy, partnerships, and programmatic priorities under the guidance of senior leadership.
  
• Support engagement with strategic partners, donors, governments, innovation hubs, and private sector stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and identify new opportunities.
  
• Provide guidance to the project implementing team on managing partner relationships and communication processes, ensuring alignment with the stakeholder engagement framework and institutional best practices.
  
• Represent A4IP and the Alliance at operational-level  regional and international meetings, workshops, and innovation platforms to advance the visibility, adoption, and scaling of portfolio innovations.
  
• Collaborate across units and CGIAR Centers to enhance cross-functional synergies and support the scaling of science-based innovations.
  

Fundraising

• Support efforts to identify and secure new innovative funding opportunities from bilateral and multilateral donors, regional institutions, particularly within MENA, to expand and diversify the organization’s portfolio.
  
• Contribute to building and maintaining a strong pipeline of funders, investors, and partners aligned with the Alliance’s mission across research and regional portfolios;
  
• Coordinate with relevant Alliance teams engaged in resource mobilization and proposal development to structure, draft, and finalize high-quality concept notes and funding proposals, particularly on MENA projects.
  

Project Management

• Manage the implementation of the AgriTech4Egypt project.
  
• Manage and coordinate assigned project activities within A4IP’s portfolio (i.e., core accelerator programs, innovation challenges), ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and delivery timelines, with specific responsibility for the strategic coordination and performance of projects implemented in the MENA region.
  
• Provide guidance to the project implementation team (region-focused project coordinators) in managing workplans, project documentation, delivery processes, and budgets, while directly leading the implementation of MENA projects.
  
• Oversee the development and validation of key project documents (i.e., Terms of Reference, workplans, technical and financial reports), ensuring quality and coherence;
  
• Ensure effective integration and coordination of project activities with other units and research programs across the organization and CGIAR.
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